Ariel University

How the Internet is used and any negative outcomes of engagement with it—especially with regards to children—is a topic of great interest, bearing legitimate investigation. Proposed identifiers of problematic internet use(PIU) include aspects of use in correlation with distress or impairment across biological, psychological, sociological, and/or occupational/academic functioning. Adolescents and those with vulnerabilities across developmental or sociological domains are particularly susceptible. Although validated instruments have been utilized to assess PIU, concerns surrounding the methodology, currency, and some validation measures of existing and cross-sectional screening tools and a lack of those with true external validity and variance, combined with some disagreement surrounding PIU, have impeded its diagnostic acceptance. Current investigative approaches to PIU include clarifying problematic gambling and gaming criteria, psychotherapeutic therapy, pharmacological interventions, and non-invasive neurostimulation therapies targeting cortical brain regions. As child screen time appears to be increasing, further research, ethical health/social policy changes, and digital literacy programs are strongly endorsed. To avoid online engagement dysregulating or harming children, digital policy youth user protection standards, pragmatic key player dialogues, transparent reassessments of digital-centric business models without compromising less resourced countries, and even globally agreed child online safety regulations are also recommended.

The book chapter demonstrates that final research model shows that the nature of the student’s job, the number of study units in English and math, and the period, have a stable significant effect on shaping digital learning patterns. Namely, students who have a steady job tend to adopt this learning pattern more than students who have a temporary job; a drop in the number of study units was associated with shaping a digital learning pattern; and period had a significant independent effect on shaping a digital learning pattern. The post-Covid period was significantly associated with a rise in the innovative learning pattern. The research findings may have an impact on lecturers, where reading assignments are an inseparable part of the course assignments and of the skills we wish to impart to students. All studies are conducted based on research literature, which reflects previous knowledge of existing research. It is extremely important to be familiar with and to follow factors affecting students’ shaping of their digital learning in academia, a pattern that is currently evident.

Objective Determine whether data collected from a smartphone camera can be used to detect anemia in a pediatric population. Methods HEMO-AI (Hemoglobin Easy Measurement by Optical Artificial Intelligence), a clinical study carried out from December 2020 to February 2023, recruited patients from the Pediatric Emergency Department, Pediatric Inpatient Department and Pediatric Hematology Unit of the Haemek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. A population-based sample of 823 patients aged 6 months to 18 years who had undergone a venous blood draw for a complete blood count since being admitted to the hospital were enrolled. Patients with total leukonychia, nailbed darkening or discoloration due to medication, nail clubbing, clinically indicated jaundice, subungual hematoma, nailbed lacerations, avulsion injuries, or nail polish applied on fingernails were not eligible for study recruitment. Video and images of the patients’ hand placed in a collection chamber were collected using a smartphone camera. Results About 823 samples, 531 from a 12.2 megapixel camera and 256 from a 12.2 megapixel camera, were collected. About 26 samples were excluded by the study coordinator for irregularities. About 97% of fingernails and 68% of skin samples were successfully identified by a post-trained machine learning model. Separate models built to detect anemia using images taken from the Pixel 3 had an average precision of 0.64 and an average recall of 0.4, whereas models built using the Pixel 6 had an average precision of 0.8 and an average recall of 0.84. Further supplementation of training data with synthetic data boosted the precision of the latter to 0.84 and the average recall to 0.87. Conclusions This study lays the groundwork for the future evolution of non-invasive, pain-free, and accessible anemia screening tools tailored specifically for pediatric patients. It identifies important sample collection parameters and design, provides critical algorithms for the pre-processing of fingernail data, and reports an initial capability to detect anemia with 87% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Trial Registration Prospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04573244) on 15 September 2020, prior to subject recruitment.

A common feature of molecular photoswitches is the selectivity of their photo-processes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, synagogues faced closure, and many non-Orthodox communities transitioned their prayer services to online platforms. This presented a significant challenge for community leaders and rabbis who were faced with a profound community crisis. An innovative response emerged including new prayers and the adaptation of existing ones to better address the pandemic’s unique realities, integrating aspects of health, divinity, community, and the environment. This study engages in a textual analysis of these prayers, exploring how these mirror cultural and social attitudes toward the body and embodiment. While the body was seen during the COVID-19 period as problematic, an object of contagion and spreader of disease (e.g., by not keeping proper distance or masking), in these particular texts it is no longer slandered, but revealed as an obedient and disciplined agent. The prayers seek to overcome the disruption in the individual’s relationship with their body and with other bodies. The prayer authors propose to the worshipper, while also conceptually changing traditional ideas and practices, to view the body as an object that must be cleaned, vaccinated, purified, and allowed to continue its function. The concern for both the well-being of the living body and the dignity of the deceased extends to care for society and humanity as a whole. Therefore, this liturgy can be seen as a pragmatic means to promote a “theology of humanistic responsibility.”

Past research indicates that concepts of infinity are not fully understood. In countably infinite sets, infinity is presumed to be perceived as larger than any finite natural number. This study explored whether symbolic representations of infinity are processed as such through contrasts with Arabic and verbal written numbers. Comparisons between the infinity word and number words were responded to faster than comparisons of two number words, but not when the infinity symbol was solely compared to Arabic numbers. Moreover, infinity comparisons yielded distance-like effects, suggesting that infinity (both word and symbol) can be misconceived as a “natural number” closer to larger numbers than small ones. These findings demonstrate difficulty perceiving the physically smallest stimulus (∞) as the upper end-value and seem to reflect a limited understanding of symbolic forms of infinity among adults. They further highlight the impact of notation and numerical syntax on how we process symbolic numerical information.

Purpose To assess dental students' understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) practice areas and examine changes in referral preferences across their educational progression in Israel. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 349 dental students from two Israeli universities (46.5% response rate). The primary independent variable was the year of study (pre‐clinical vs. clinical years). The main outcome variables included perceptions of OMFS scope and referral preferences for various procedures. Covariates included demographics and prior OMFS exposure. Chi‐square tests, linear trend analysis, and mediation analysis were performed. Results Students in clinical years exhibited a broader understanding of OMFS scope compared to pre‐clinical years. Referral preferences to OMFS increased significantly for complex procedures like facial skeletal deformities (46.2% to 61.3%, p = 0.004) and oral cancer (66.2% to 78.9%, p = 0.008). The perception of extractions as the primary OMFS procedure increased from 63.6% in the first year to 77.6% in the sixth year ( p = 0.033). Personal and family experiences with OMFS significantly mediated the relationship between year of study and referral tendencies (16.2% of total effect mediated, p < 0.001). Conclusion Clinical exposure improves understanding of OMFS capabilities, leading to increased referrals for complex procedures. However, several practice areas remain underrecognized, highlighting the need for improved educational interventions.

Background Diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID) may overshadow, or co‐occur with, hearing impairment, but screening is frequently inaccessible due to various factors that prevent successful test execution. There is a pressing need for easily, locally administered hearing tests. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the digit‐in‐noise (DIN) test, as well as three variations of it, as a hearing screening for individuals with mild to moderate ID. Additionally, we explored correlations between participant characteristics and cognitive‐linguistic abilities, with DIN test performance. Method Forty participants with ID aged 21–40 were recruited from two supported employment centres, 31 of whom met full inclusion criteria. Controls were 20 typically developed (TD) participants, aged 21–40. The original DIN test (DIN(3)) was administered, and those unable to recall the three digits were administered a version with two digits (DIN(2)). Participants unable to successfully complete DIN(3) or DIN(2) were administered versions with added visual and verbal performance feedback. Results A significant difference in speech receptive threshold in noise (SRTn) between DIN(2) and DIN(3) was only present for the ID group. A moderate negative relationship between DIN(2) SRTn and vocabulary and a positive relationship with age was found for the ID group; no correlation was found with digit span or matrices. The DIN(2) SRTn was correlated with the average hearing level of pure tones measured by audiometry. Conclusions Our findings highlight the DIN(2) as the most effective version, as its signal‐to‐noise ratio (SRTn) threshold was closest to the typically developed (TD) control group. This study is the first step towards developing a hearing screening test for individuals with ID who are at elevated risk of impairment and who have insufficient evaluation access. Our findings suggest that adults with mild to moderate ID can sufficiently perform the adapted DIN(2) as a hearing screening test.

Background Hospital at Home (HaH) is an alternative care model that provides acute hospital-level services to patients at their homes. Despite its proven advantages and global experience, HaH did not gain significant traction in Israel until the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue was highlighted at the 2022 Dead Sea Conference on Health Policy. This study compares perceptions of HaH among the Israeli public and physicians, Jewish and Arab, identifying facilitators and barriers to its expansion in Israel. Methods Two online surveys were conducted, one with 342 physicians and another with 424 members of the public aged 35+. Respondents were sampled based on age, gender, district of residence, and population group. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests explored perceptions, and logistic regression analyzed multivariate relationships. Results Results showed 39% of the public believed HaH care quality is as good as or better than hospitals, compared to 65% of physicians. 44% of the public felt HaH safety is as good or better, while 75% of physicians agreed. 58% of the public saw communication between patients/families and the healthcare professionals in HaH as good or better, contrasted with 91% of physicians. 78% of the public and 97% of physicians viewed HaH as a good alternative to hospitalization and would consider using it personally. Arab and lower-income respondents were less positive about HaH than Jewish and higher-income respondents. Community-based physicians preferred HaH more than hospital-based ones. Barriers to HaH expansion included lack of specialized manpower, resources, and awareness. Conclusions The findings suggest that both the public and physicians show confidence in HaH, and it is gaining popularity among both. Policymakers could use these insights to expand HaH, focusing on increasing awareness, reducing family burden, tailoring services for diverse populations, involving hospital staff, and investing in resources and training.

Electrodeposition of metals into nanopores of templates represents a crucial area of study within the field of confinement-controlled electrochemistry. This review addresses the templated synthesis of nanocomposites (nonmetallic hard templates with one-dimensional cylindrical nanopores filled with metal or semiconductor) and single nanowires and nanotubes obtained by template dissolution. The focus is on the influence of electrochemical conditions such as electrolyte composition, electrodeposition regimes, and template characteristics on the morphological and physical properties of the resulting nanostructures. Additionally, this review introduces the theoretical modeling of mass transfer in templated electrodeposition, which is critical for understanding and optimizing the pore-filling processes and the uniformity of nanostructure formation. The potential applications of these nanostructures in fields such as electronics, optoelectronics, and catalysis are also discussed, highlighting their significant implications for advancing nanotechnology and materials science.

While previous work suggested that presenters may benefit from the use of humor, others argue that the use of humor can be risky. Therefore, there is a need to examine the potential moderators and mediators of this process. The study aims to experimentally explore the appropriate use of humor during a professional investment presentation. The sample included 400 participants. After being randomly assigned to 2 × 2 between-subjects conditions (man /woman presenter × with/without a humorous message), the participants watched a video of an investment presentation. Participants who were asked to invest virtual money in the firm after the video. Using a moderated mediation analysis, the results show that humor was related to higher investment amounts and that the presenters’ perceived organizational status mediated this indirect relationship. The novelty of the study lies in its experimental design, focusing on audience behavioral tendencies and its unexplored mixed-gender effect: women tended to invest less when a male presenter used humor, while men tended to invest more when a female presenter used humor. The perceived status of the presenter mediated these associations. Theoretically, the study expands the understanding of the Benign Violation Theory (BVT) regarding the need to address contextual factors while examining the appropriate use of humor. Moreover, to maximize the benefits of humor, one must consider the humor’s relevance to the audience and acknowledge that humor needs to be appropriately used. This is particularly important for people working in investment settings.

Mental arithmetic is widely studied, both with symbolic digits and with non-symbolic dot patterns that require operand estimation. Several studies reported surprising biases in adults’ performance with both formats while their direction (over/underestimation in addition/subtraction) remains controversial (operational momentum effect or OM; Prado & Knops, Prado and Knops, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, in Press., 2024). Theoretical accounts of OM make opposing predictions, thus enabling a decisive test: Using symbolic stimuli and responses, we enabled accurate operand encoding and result reporting, thus leaving mental calculation as only source of bias. Importantly, we manipulated operand order through calculation instructions (e.g., “29 + 19” vs. “add 19 to 29”) to assess the crucial role of first operand size as cognitive anchor. With both auditory (Experiment 1, N = 30) and visual presentation (Experiment 2, N = 30), we observed reverse OM, i.e., overestimations in subtraction and underestimations in addition. Importantly, this instance of operation-based anchoring was independent of a second anchoring effect related to operand order: A large operand is a stronger anchor when mentioned first. Our discovery of both operation-based and order-based anchoring extends the well-known anchoring effect into mental arithmetic and eliminates several competing theories about the origin of OM.

Background Individuals with dementia are particularly vulnerable during emergency situations due to challenges with cognition, mobility, and daily functioning. However, little is known about how disruptive events may specifically impact the health of those with dementia. Objective To evaluate changes in health outcomes for individuals with and without dementia surrounding the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. Specifically, we analyzed and compared changes in mental health status, medication adherence, healthcare service utilization, and associated costs between individuals with dementia (Study Group) and those without dementia (Control Group) during the period surrounding the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. Method A prospective cohort study compared outcomes between individuals with dementia (Study Group, n = 24,178) and without (Control Group, n = 250,652) before and after the crisis onset. The conflict precipitously threw national systems into disarray, recruited healthcare personnel to the war effort, and disrupted supply chains. Results Compared to baseline, analysis revealed alterations in patterns of dementia diagnoses, healthcare service utilization, medication adherence, and associated costs during the crisis period for both groups. However, the Study Group experienced comparatively larger declines. Conclusions Findings provide insights into how humanitarian emergencies, through disruption of health systems and care networks, differentially impact continuity of dementia care. This underscores the need for tailored crisis response strategies to address the heightened vulnerabilities of patients with dementia.

Introduction: A common tool used to measure cognitive reserve is the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq). In the present study, we aimed to adapt and determine the psychometric properties (validity and intra-rater test-retest reliability) of the Hebrew version of the CRIq in a cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Methods: Fifty pwMS (30 women aged 48.3 (SD=10.2)) completed the CRIq and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which were used for validation. Secondary outcome measures included the evaluation of depression, anxiety, and perceived fatigue. Twenty-five (of the 50) pwMS were randomly selected and participated in the CRIq intra-rater test-retest reproducibility study based on a 7-12-day interval between tests. Results: The mean CRIq total was 101.8 (S.D.=13.04), which is considered at the medium level. The CRIq section scores were at a similar medium level. According to Pearson's Rho correlation analysis, the CRIq total score and sections of education, work, and leisure were significantly correlated at a medium level (Rho ranging between 0.282 to 0.415) with the SDMT score, a measurement of cognitive information processing speed. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of the CRIq total and CRIq sections ranged between 0.942 to 0.998, indicating a strong correlation. Conclusions: The Hebrew version of the CRIq is a reliable and valid tool for assessing cognitive reserve in pwMS, hence enabling clinicians and researchers to effectively monitor cognitive reserve in this population.

Enteral nutrition is the preferred route for medical nutritional therapy. However, it is associated with numerous complications related to the tube itself and its position or patency, but also to the gastrointestinal dysfunction. An understanding of these complications and the way to overcome them is mandatory. Recently, new approaches have proposed the use of machine learning to predict gastrointestinal intolerance and enteral feeding failure, allowing the physician to decide the best route to use. Finally new technologies have been developed to detect massive reflux and prevent aspiration but also to compensate for energy and protein delivery failure. The integration of a better understanding of the complications and the use of artificial intelligence and of new technologies will allow the ICU physician to provide a more efficient nutritional therapy.

Purpose New drugs are needed for the therapy of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). This study aims to investigate doxorubizen (a dual-action structural hybrid (chimera) of doxorubicin (Dox) and DNA methylating drug temozolomide), in comparison with Dox, and alone or in combination with lenvatinib in ATC 8305C cells, and in primary human ATC cell cultures (pATC). Methods We have investigated doxorubizen, Dox, and lenvatinib on 5 different pATC and in continuous 8305C cell line in vitro, evaluating their effect on cells proliferation by WST-1, apoptosis (Hoechst ad Annexin V assays) and migration (Chemicon QCM™ 96-well Migration Assay). Results The results have demonstrated: (1) a significant antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect of doxorubizen in 8305C and in pATC; (2) a significant antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect of Dox in pATC, and in 8305C; (3) the antineoplastic effect of lenvatinib in 8305C and in pATC; (4) a stronger antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect of doxorubizen than that of Dox, or lenvatinib; (5) that doxorubizen induced an inhibition of migration in pATC stronger than that of Dox, or lenvatinib; (6) that doxorubizen is able to synergize in vitro with lenvatinib increasing the antiproliferative effect, while doxorubizen alone is the primary factor that promotes the proapoptotic impact. Conclusion We have first shown that doxorubizen has a potent antineoplastic effect in vitro in 8305C and in 5 different pATC, and that can synergize with lenvatinib. These results open the way to a future evaluation of the antineoplastic effect of doxorubizen in ATC patients.

This study aimed to investigate the possible moderating role of sexual sanctification in the context of sexual dysfunctions and sexual and psychological well-being, particularly examining potential gender differences. Data were collected from 1207 Israeli adult women and men in cohabiting relationships for at least 6 months using an online survey. Participants provided information on sexual functioning, and measures included non-theistic sexual sanctification, sexual and psychological distress, and sexual and relationship satisfaction. Measures of religious behavior and belief were also included as control variables. Statistical analyses included moderation models to assess the moderating function of sexual sanctification on the associations between sexual dysfunctions and the outcome measures. Separate analyses were performed for men and women. Findings confirmed significant associations between sexual dysfunctions and all aspects of sexual and psychological well-being included in the study for women and men. Sexual sanctification was found to moderate the association between sexual dysfunctions and sexual and psychological distress, particularly for men, where at higher levels of sanctification, the association between dysfunction and distress was more pronounced. However, sexual sanctification did not significantly moderate the relationships between sexual dysfunctions and sexual or relationship satisfaction for either gender. The results suggest that, although sexual sanctification is often associated with positive outcomes, it may also exacerbate the emotional impact of sexual dysfunctions, particularly in those who perceive their sexual experiences as sacred. Gender-specific patterns further emphasize the importance of tailored interventions that consider the different ways men and women experience and interpret sexual dysfunctions within the context of their sexual perceptions.

A meta‐chemical surface is being patterned via dip‐pen nanolithography (DPN) for novel electrochemical heavy metal sensors. The unique feature of DPN allows a precise transfer of desired ink onto various surfaces. Two kinds of sensors are being developed, which differ by the ligand in the poly‐methyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐based ink: 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene (DAN) and D‐penicillamine (D‐PA). The nanosize, the surface‐to‐volume ratio (18.6 and 23.1 μm⁻¹ for DAN‐ and D‐PA‐based ink, respectively), and the binding strength between the ligand and the cation (2.21 and −21.37 kcal mol⁻¹ for DAN‐ and D‐PA‐based ink, respectively) are found to be the source of their high sensitivity, with limit of detection values of 0.40 and 0.30 ppb for DAN and D‐PA, respectively. According to the DFT calculations, the binding reactions in the presence of PMMA are more exergonic; this indicates that PMMA added to the ink for the patterning process improves the binding between the metals and the ligands. This enhanced binding between the metals and the ligands is a crucial and innovative function of the PMMA that can enhance sensor performance.

We report the development of amperometric biosensors (ABSs) employing flavocytochrome b2 (Fcb2) coupled with nanoparticles (NPs) of noble metals on graphite electrode (GE) surfaces. Each NPs/GE configuration was evaluated for its ability to decompose hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), mimicking peroxidase (PO) activity. The most effective nanoPO (nPO) was selected for developing ABSs targeting L-lactate. Consequently, several Fcb2/nPO-based ABSs with enhanced sensitivity to L-lactate were developed, demonstrating mediated ET between Fcb2 and the GE surface. The positive effect of noble metal NPs on Fcb2-based sensor sensitivity may be explained by the synergy between their dual roles as both PO mimetics and electron transfer mediators. Furthermore, our findings provide preliminary data that may prompt a re-evaluation of the mechanism of L-lactate oxidation in Fcb2-mediated catalysis. Previously, it was believed that L-lactate oxidation via Fcb2 catalysis did not produce H2O2, unlike catalysis via L-lactate oxidase. Our initial research revealed that the inclusion of nPO in Fcb2-based ABSs significantly increased their sensitivity. Employing other PO mimetics in ABSs for L-lactate yielded similar results, reinforcing our hypothesis that trace amounts of H2O2 may be generated as a transient intermediate in this reaction. The presence of nPO enhances the L-lactate oxidation rate through H2O2 utilization, leading to signal amplification and heightened bioelectrode sensitivity. The proposed ABSs have been successfully tested on blood serum and fermented food samples, showing their promise for L-lactate monitoring in medicine and the food industry.